StopKor investigated Vasily Zazulyak's accomplishments in office, his net worth, and his family's lifestyle.
Vasily Zazulyak
Back in 2024, journalists StopKora reported a high-profile scandal in Bukovina, related to the operations of a private medical center. At the time, the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine announced the exposure of a tax evasion and under-the-table salary payment scheme. According to law enforcement, some employees of the medical facility were officially paid only the minimum wage, while the rest were received in cash. Furthermore, instances of illegal employment of some employees were established.
The investigation also revealed a possible connection between this medical center and the family of Vasyl Zazulyak, then deputy mayor of Chernivtsi and now mayoral adviser. These circumstances heightened public awareness and drew increased public attention.
More than a year has passed since then. In March 2025 Vasily Vladimirovich Zazulyak resigned from his position as deputy mayor. But he didn't go far from the mayor's office. He became advisor the mayor Roman Klitschuk on infrastructure and improvement.
The StopKora analytical center investigated Zazulyak's accomplishments in office, his net worth, and his family's lifestyle.
Vasyl Zazulyak is a well-known public figure from Chernivtsi, a politician and entrepreneur who combines government positions with business. He is an advisor to the Chernivtsi mayor. He was also deputy mayor of Chernivtsi, responsible for infrastructure, public services, and urban planning, a member of the Chernivtsi District Council, and a member of the executive committee. In these positions, he found himself at the center of conflicts with utility companies and decisions. Vasyl is actively involved with the family business. Most of the companies in which he appears are controlled by his mother, Maria Ivanovna, brother, Ivan, and wife, Lidiya. This creates the first red flag: the high level of business and asset concentration in family hands, which complicates transparency and auditing.
Key companies include Rent-Office, Polyus-Development, BasisMed, and others operating in the fields of development, leasing, and medical practice.
The last medical center opened in 2024 became the subject of a tax scandal: some employees were paid under the table, while others worked without paperwork, leading to an investigation by the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, searches, and the seizure of documents and cash. This clearly indicates the risk of tax and legal problems in the family's business. The investigation also revealed that this is not the first time the companies belonging to the official and member of parliament have evaded taxes.
The Zazulyaks' financial assets and real estate also highlight the scale of their wealth. The family owns several houses, apartments, and land plots in Chernivtsi and the surrounding region, and the couple is registered in the same building as the family's medical center.Basis-honeyThe family keeps significant amounts of hryvnia, dollars, and euros in banks and cash, which potentially attracts the attention of regulatory authorities.
Vasily Zazulyak. Family
- Zazulyak Lidiya Emelyanovna, wife
Registration address: Chernivtsi city, Rovenska street, building 5-A.
He owns a business and a lot of real estate.
She is raising daughters Irina and Maria and a son, Andrey. The children are most likely minors. She owns no property or business. However, according to business records, a person with the full name Maria Vasilievna Zazulyak (likely a coincidence) lists a stake in the Chernivtsi-based LLC "SADGORA" (property leasing), whose shareholders include a Russian citizen.
Vasily Zazulyak with his wife
- Zazulyak Ivan Vladimirovich, most likely Vasily's brother
Property: His brother owns five plots of land and 12 properties, the vast majority of which are apartments and premises in the prestigious Vodogray residential complex. He also owns a house in his native village of Budyliv in the Frankivsk region. He also has numerous businesses in the construction industry. - Zazulyak Maria Ivanovna, most likely the mother
Property: The woman owns five plots of land and five properties, including property in the prestigious Vodogray residential complex and a house in her native village of Budyliv in the Frankivsk region. She also has numerous businesses in the construction industry. - Zazulyak Vladimir Vasilyevich, most likely the father
Probable date of birth: December 15, 1958
He is the director of SNYATINSKY BRICK FACTORY LLC / 24680092
Property: Owns only an empty plot of land in the village of Budyliv in the Ivano-Frankivsk region and an apartment in Lviv in an old housing stock.
Scandals involving Vasily Zazulyak
- Tax scandal in Chernivtsi surrounding the Basismed medical center
In October 2024, the private medical center Basismed, owned by Vasyl Zazulyak's wife, Lidiya (33,3%), found itself at the center of a scandal. The Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) launched an investigation into tax evasion and the payment of part of the center's staff's salaries "in cash": some employees received the official minimum wage and the remainder in cash, while others worked without formal documentation. Journalists reported that law enforcement officers conducted searches at the medical facility and at the residences of those involved, confiscating documents, computers, and cash.
- Criticism over management decisions and dissatisfaction among some members of the community
During his tenure as Deputy Mayor of Chernivtsi, Vasyl Zazulyak found himself at the center of public criticism related to the operation of the city's public utilities. Specifically, Municipal enterprise "GorShEP"City authorities allegedly exerted pressure on the company, conducting frequent inspections, and causing conflicts with management and employees. This was portrayed as a standoff between officials and the utility company.
Vasily Zazulyak publicly denied these accusations. He claimed there was no pressure, and that the inspections were routine management controls aimed at restoring order to the company's operations.
Companies associated with Vasily Zazulyak
NGO "VILNA SHPALTA" / 42254662 — publication. Listed in the online media registry (No. R40-05931). Media name "Shpalta" (ppgad@pucrs.br The head of the public organization is Serhiy Hrynyuk, a member of the Chernivtsi City Council of the 8th convocation, a member of Griko Group LLC, and the former president of the Bukovyna Football Club. Other prominent members of the public organization include Cherkasy Mayor Roman Klychuk, and city and regional council deputies from the United Alternative party, Serhiy Hrynyuk, Volodymyr Moroz, and Oksana Filippova.
JSC ZNIKIF ZETA FINANCE / 43952891. According to Ucontrol data, Zazulyak owned 50% as of 2021. Kved 64.30 Trusts, foundations, and similar financial entities. Business registers show that the company is currently owned by a well-known Lviv businessman. Grigory Kozlovsky and his father Petro Kozlovsky (these are the same Kozlovskys who are known as the owners of the luxury holiday complex in the Lviv region "Emily Resort").
TRANS-UNIT LLC /37835940. Vasyl Zazulyak is listed as the company's director. The LLC is owned by his mother, Maria Zazulyak (90,00%), and brother, Ivan (10,00%). Kved 41.20. Construction of residential and non-residential buildings. According to the latest published financial statements for 2024, the company is unprofitable. Until at least 2018, the company imported goods from Belarus. The LLC was the general contractor for the Vodogray UN1T residential complex, according to data on lun.ua. The company is involved in criminal proceedings dated May 7, 2019, No. 42019260000000077, for signs of a criminal offense under Part 3 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (the body that initiated the case is not specified in the court decision). The criminal case concerns possible VAT evasion related to the construction and sale of housing through a network of related companies and cooperatives, which were formally considered non-profit or not registered as VAT payers, amounting to approximately 8,8 million hryvnias. The LLC is mentioned in the case materials as one of the related companies, which, according to investigators, was involved in this scheme, without specifying its role as the organizer.
LLC "RENT-OFFICE", 38178782, share 25,37%. The other participants are the mother, with 73,13%, and the wife with a share of 1,49%. Kved 68.20 Leasing and operation of own or leased real estate.
NEXT PROPERTY LLC, 42061228, 50% stake, 50% also held by Zazulyak's brother, Ivan Vladimirovich. 68.10 Purchase and sale of own real estate. The company owns three properties in the Chernivtsi region. (Details hidden)
BC "VODOGRAY", 39714715, 50% share, the rest is owned by brother Ivan. 41.10 Organization of building construction 0992687826. BC is a member of the Board of Directors of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine. Mentioned in the same above-described criminal proceedings dated 07.05.2019 No. 42019260000000077 for a criminal offense under Part 3 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding a scheme for tax evasion during the construction and sale of housing. The company had/has a license for the construction, installation and dismantling of buildings, structures, strengthening their emergency parts, electric heating of concrete and electric thawing of soils. Website https://vodogray.ua/ The company's portfolio includes 5 construction projects.
NGO "BUKOVINA ASSOCIATION OF SPECIALISTS IN URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE" / 39663954 58000, Chernivtsi region, the city of Chernivtsi, Rivne street, 5 A. Among the participants, in addition to Vasyl Zazulyak, there are also a certain Pikushchenko Oleg Leonidovych, Stasyuk Maryan Vasilyevich.
JSC "ZNIKIF "FINVEST", 45668075, 50% stake, the rest is held by brother Ivan. 64.30 Trusts, funds and similar financial entities +38(066) 194-44-49.
The Zazulyak family's fortune
- Real estate
In your last declarationIn the declaration filed during his dismissal, Vasyl Zazulyak declared a significant list of real estate assets, most of which are registered to his wife, Lidiya, and he only has the right to use them. The only property he owns is a non-residential property in Chernivtsi, measuring 123,9 square meters, the right to which he acquired in October 2018. Meanwhile, the right to use this property belongs to the limited liability company "Next Property."
All other property is declared in the name of his wife, Lydia.
However, according to data from the State Register of Rights to Real Estate, Vasyl Zazulyak owns residential properties in the city of Chernivtsi.
Specifically, the building at 216b Holovna Street, Chernivtsi. This address is the Atlant residential complex. Also, the property at 33 Vorobkevicha Sidora Street, Chernivtsi. This address is the Vodograi residential complex.
In 2021, a residential building with an area of over 485 square meters was registered in the name of his wife, Lidiya, in the village of Korovia, Chernivtsi Oblast, at 21 Mira Street. The title to it was registered in June 2021, and Vasily Zazulyak has the right to use it. The house is most likely here on the map, taking into account the location of the land plots, which are also owned by the wife: 7321082700:01:003:0226, 7321082700:01:003:0222 (they have a significant area - 1390 and 1353 sq. m, registered in 2017).
In Chernivtsi, the declaration lists several apartments. Zazulyak has been using one of them, measuring 186,7 square meters, since 2009.
The wife also owns three apartments in Chernivtsi, measuring 58 square meters (as of 2021), 39,4 square meters (as of the end of 2022), and 186,7 square meters, two parking spaces, and six non-residential premises (including properties measuring 125,8, 190,4, 67, 38,7, and 3 square meters, the rights to which were acquired between 2009 and 2019). Most of the apartments and premises are in the Vodogray residential complex.
Vasily Zazulyak. Movable property
Vasily Zazulyak only owns a 2000 Volkswagen Caddy, the rights to which were acquired on March 19, 2006.
The 2018 Volkswagen Touareg passenger car, which was purchased on September 27, 2018, is registered in the name of his wife Lydia.
And also a 2021 AUDI Etron Sportback 55, purchased on August 17, 2024. Vasily Zazulyak has the right to use these vehicles.
At the wife’s company “Rent-Office” VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF 2018 GRAY CE1613ZA (cost on the used car market is about 13-14 thousand dollars),
- VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2016 BEIGE CE9800VN (cost about 16 thousand dollars) and MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350D 2017 BLACK CE0999VV.
At Phoenix Estate LLC, which is registered to Zazulyak's parents:
- MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 516 CDI 2017 GRAY CE9754EO,
- VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 2017 WHITE CE4901EP and LAND
- ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT 2021 WHITE KA7797SI (used car price from $70)
Income of the Zazulyakov family
- Vasyl Zazulyak received a salary in the Executive Committee of the Chernivtsi City Council - 581,765 UAH;
- Dividends from Next Property LLC amounted to UAH 1414745.
- His wife, Lidiya Zazulyak, earned more from her business activities – 4,474,939 UAH; her salary at Polyus-Development LLC was 167,195 UAH;
- And also income from a part-time job at Rent-Office LLC - 23,750 UAH;
- dividends from Polyus-Bud private enterprise — UAH 466,000;
- dividends from PJSC JSB Ukrgasbank — UAH 340,497.
- social payments - 10,320 UAH;
Financial assets are concentrated in both bank accounts and cash, in several currencies.
- Vasyl Zazulyak has 80,524 UAH (UAH), 8,500 US dollars (USD), 8,100 euros (EUR) in JSC CB PrivatBank.
- 3270 US dollars (USD) and 999 UAH (UAH) were placed in JSC Sens Bank.
- Lidiya Zazulyak holds 13,877 euros (EUR), 12,076 UAH (UAH) in JSC CB PrivatBank.
- At Sense Bank JSC - 1,177 euros (EUR).
- PJSC JSB Ukrgasbank holds hryvnia funds in two accounts: UAH 328,555 and UAH 97,247.
- Vasily Zazulyuk has 121,100 US dollars (USD) and 93,640 euros (EUR) in cash.
- Lydia has 79,400 euros (EUR) and 130,050 US dollars (USD).
Furthermore, an anonymous insider shared details of the development of developer Vasily Zazulyak's business and political activities with StopKor. According to him, the entrepreneur's career began long before the construction of large-scale residential complexes and was closely tied to both politics and shady financial schemes.
According to the source, Vasily Zazulyak once ran for the Svoboda political party, but did not receive any significant political or financial dividends there.
"This man once ran for the Svoboda political party. He received nothing from Svoboda's political dividends," the insider notes.
The initial capital for the construction business, according to him, was formed through funding from the Jewish community "City of Odessa", as well as private investors - Odessans of Jewish origin.
"He received funding from the Jewish community 'City of Odessa.' These funds became the foundation for the initial construction," the source said.
Construction began with small projects: initially, a single building with three entrances, later expanding to seven or eight. Vasily Zazulyak spent a long time abroad working, but, according to an insider, he did not earn any significant capital there.
According to the source, the developer's father played a special role in the launch of the business.
"His father was involved in a brick factory. This was also the foundation of their construction," the insider notes.
The turning point in Vasily Zazulyak's fortune was the construction of the large residential complex "Vodograi," which began about 10-12 years ago. According to the source, several thousand people currently live in the complex.
At the same time, an insider claims that a “black accounting” system exists in the Vodogray residential complex.
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"The apartment cost around $70. A person would come in and pay $40-$50 in cash in a separate office. The remaining amounts were ostensibly transferred through the banking system to reduce taxes," he claims.
According to the source, after the complex was completed, law enforcement agencies recorded significant tax violations.
"The total amount of unpaid taxes to the state budget, as far as I know, was between 500 and 700 million hryvnia," the insider stated.
Following financial success, the developer, according to a source, began construction of a similar housing complex in another area of the city and joined the local political project "Alternative."
"He joined the political bloc of the local Alternative party. This party was led by the current mayor, Roman Klyuchuk," the source reported.
According to him, the project involved well-known developers and major businessmen who jointly financed the election campaign, which allowed the party to gain a seat on the city council.
Separately, the insider claims possible instances of voter bribery during the 2019–2020 elections.
"They brought people from villages, registered them in apartments, and gave them the right to vote. Some apartments had seven or eight registered people. Then they were bussed to vote," he claims.
After the mayor came to power, according to a source, representatives of the construction business gained access to budget funds.
"To avoid spending their own money on roads and infrastructure, they lobbied through activists and certain schemes to develop the territories at the expense of the local budget," the insider concluded.
He emphasized that some cars and watches were not included in Zazulyak’s declaration.
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